Most golfers that travel to play the game, whether it’s in the US, Canada or overseas, are familiar with the name Ship Sticks. For those few no familiar with them; here’s the Reader’s Digest version: Go online to www.shipsticks.com, choose your destination, tell them what you want to ship and when (golf clubs, luggage, etc.) and choose from a number of pickup and delivery options. Then, click on Start Shipping and the process is underway. Fill out a form with the specific pickup and delivery information and billing information and you’re done. Ship Sticks will email you information about how to pack your clubs to get them ready for pickup as well as reminding you when to have them on the porch, ready to go. Now all you have to do is pack your suitcase and get to your destination. If you’ve planned it right, your clubs will be there waiting for you.
But wait, now you don’t even have to travel with your suitcase; although it is still recommended that you – or someone close to you – pack it for you. Ship Sticks now offers luggage delivery, eliminating even more hassles at the airport. You don’t have to be travelling on a golf vacation either. Whether it’s a family vacation or a romantic weekend getaway with that special someone, Ship Sticks can make your luggage delivery worry-free. Your only worry will be getting the kids to behave!
I recently had the opportunity to put Ship Sticks to the test. I was headed to Michigan for two weeks of golf writing and decided I really didn’t want to travel with golf clubs, I had enough luggage to tote around. When I went online to set everything up, I noticed they offered luggage delivery as well. I called their offices at (561) 429-3900 and spoke with one of the friendly customer service reps who confirmed that they could also now ship my luggage. I went back online and set everything up. The next morning at exactly the time I was told, Fed Ex arrived to pick everything up and take it away to be shipped. The worry-free process was in motion, or as worry-free as someone can be when shipping precious cargo with a stranger for the first time.
Any fears of never seeing my beloved golf equipment and clothing were dispelled when I remembered that the golf equipment and suitcase were insured for enough to replace them. Now it was just a matter of getting to Michigan and seeing the fruits of my labor. When I arrived in Michigan, the clubs had been unloaded from their travel case and were waiting for me on a golf cart, ready to go out and play the first round of a scheduled 18 round trip.
After my final round of the trip, I loaded everything up, affixed the Fed Ex pick up labels Ship Sticks gives you very explicit information on how to do this), and left them in the pro shop to be picked up later that day. A few days later, my clubs and luggage arrived safely back at home and I had a new best friend in the luggage shipping industry.
I can’t tell you how nice it was strolling through the airport with nothing more than the clothes on my back and a backpack; especially on the way home, knowing home smoothly everything had gone on the first leg of the trip.
From a cost standpoint, the key in my mind to justifying Ship Sticks is to give yourself enough time to make it affordable. Overnight delivery as you can expect can be a bit pricey; it would have been about $165 each way for just my golf clubs. If you are a planner, you can save an incredible amount of money. Shipping it through Ship Sticks via ground transportation takes 4 business days but knocks the cost down to around $70. Compare that to what the airlines are going to charge for handling – or mishandling – your golf equipment and the difference can be justified in the peace of mind it delivers. Take it from someone who travels to play golf for a living (it’s a rough life, but someone’s got to do it). The few extra dollars are worth it. Just don’t make a tee time for the day you get home! For more information or to book, visit their website at www.shipsticks.com.